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Rabbi Matondo’s late strike earned Rangers a 3-3 attract a dramatic Outdated Agency conflict with Celtic to maintain the Scottish Premiership title race on a knife-edge.
Only one level separated the Glasgow rivals at kick-off and Daizen Maeda surprised an expectant Ibrox crowd after simply 21 seconds as he despatched James Tavernier’s poor clearance previous Jack Butland to offer Celtic the lead.
The Hoops had been 2-0 up earlier than half an hour was performed as Matt O’Riley calmly dinked dwelling from the penalty spot after Connor Goldson’s handball.
Goldson and Fabio Silva spurned probabilities for Rangers earlier than James Tavernier’s controversial penalty pulled them again into the match – referee John Beaton rescinding Silva’s yellow card for diving after a VAR examine.
Cyriel Dessers equaliser was disallowed for a foul by Tom Lawrence within the build-up earlier than Abdallah Sima did pull Rangers degree late on.
The celebrations lasted simply 71 seconds earlier than Adam Idah beat Butland on the close to put up as Celtic seemed set to maneuver 4 factors clear.
However Rangers weren’t completed and Matondo curled dwelling a surprising shot in stoppage time to offer Rangers the possibility to maneuver high of the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night time in the event that they beat Dundee.
Six-goal thriller in title race drama
It was as soon as once more dwelling followers solely and Maeda surprised the Ibrox crowd into silence as he met Tavernier’s poor clearance and despatched the ball past Butland contained in the opening 30 seconds.
He didn’t know a lot about it, however the quickest Premiership purpose of the season might have been an enormous one for the guests.
Rangers seemed rattled as they tried to get better from that early blow because the wind swirled across the stadium.
Connor Goldson had an enormous probability to degree the sport earlier than the half-hour mark after a superb supply from Mohamed Diomande, however in some way he lifted the ball over the bar with Hart already crushed.
Simply minutes later Butland confirmed his high quality within the Rangers purpose as he stopped Maeda’s low shot with Reo Hatate placing the rebound vast.
With England supervisor Gareth Southgate watching from the stand, the Rangers keeper did effectively to maintain Matt O’Riley’s header out earlier than their afternoon took one other blow as Celtic had been awarded a penalty after a VAR examine.
The ball got here off Goldson’s elbow with referee John Beaton pointing to the spot after being despatched to the monitor to evaluate the incident.
O’Riley stepped up and confirmed true nerve as he dinked the ball down the center as Butland dived the flawed approach.
Ibrox fell into silence once more, then the boos began as Fabio Silva was subsequent to move up an enormous probability for the hosts. He collected the ball from Dessers earlier than being denied twice by Hart.
Philippe Clement made a change on the break with Abdallah Sima changing Scott Wright as he seemed to discover a approach again into the sport.
They had been then awarded a penalty as Fabio Silva’s reserving for a dive within the space was rescinded after a VAR examine and Tavernier made amends for his early howler as he fired previous Hart from the spot.
Dessers thought he had levelled the sport quickly after as he poked the ball dwelling after Sima’s shot was saved.
However Beaton once more went to the monitor earlier than ruling the purpose out for a foul by Tom Lawrence within the build-up.
The temper inside Ibrox had modified as Rangers went in quest of an equaliser and it got here with 4 minutes of regular time remaining when Sima picked up a clearance contained in the Celtic field and fired excessive into the online by way of a deflection.
Nonetheless, a second later, Idah, on for Kyogo Furuhashi, took a move from fellow substitute Paulo Bernardo and fired low previous Butland.
However within the third of eight added minutes, Matondo turned inside within the Celtic field and curled the ball excessive previous Hart and Ibrox bounced for the previous few minutes, whereas the ultimate whistle had gamers from either side at loggerheads as passions boiled over.
What’s next?
Rangers return to Scottish Premiership motion on Wednesday away at Dundee, stay on Sky Sports activities. Kick-off 8pm.
Celtic’s subsequent recreation is at dwelling to St Mirren on April 13. Kick-off 3pm.
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